STUDYING  PRIMARY  CHILDREN	417
sponses to the teacher's casual questions, and their methods
of work, all give the teacher valuable information about
their capacities and needs.
After an orientation period of two weeks the children
take an intelligence test in groups of five or six. On the
basis of the test results and the teacher's observation and
informal testing, the children form different learning groups
in which they may get the experiences they need at their
present stage of development. The Stanford revision of the
Binet-Simon Test is given to individual children who show
a discrepancy between their daily performance and the re-
sults of the group test. Special classes provide suitable ac-
tivities for exceptional children who either might be a
menace to other children or who are not able to profit by
the instruction offered in the regular classrooms. When a
child in a special class shows improvement, he is allowed
to return to his regular class for all or part of the time.
This method of studying first grade children, compris-
ing as it does, summer contacts with parents, opportunity
for children to choose the activities they prefer and to talk
and work with other children, and the use of standardized
tests, has been found practical and effective. It may be
used in any school system that is truly concerned with the
best development of every child.
STUDYING    THE    CHILD'S    HEALTH
A study of the child's health and physical condition should
include (1) a medical examination, (2) an appraisal of his
nutritional condition, (3) tests of his strength and posture,
and (4) an inventory of his present health practices. This
information is needed in order to introduce an effective
educational and corrective program and to help every child
attain the best health possible for him.
Medical Examination. — The medical health examination
should be given annually by the family physician or by the
school physician in cases in which the family does not have
adequate medical service. The health examination is both
diagnostic and educational. In the first place, defects of